In 2013, for the eighth year in a row, more countries registered declines in political rights and civil liberties than gains. Even as the number of electoral democracies in the world increased, nations like the Central African Republic, Mali, and Ukraine suffered devastating democratic setbacks. Thirty-five percent of the world’s population, living in 25 percent of the polities on the planet, found themselves in countries that aren’t free. As we enter a year in which more people will vote in elections than ever before, democracy appears to be in a holding pattern around the world—if not outright retreat.

Kazachok saidI prefer to think for myself rather than to have a think tank do it for me...As for Ukraine: Much ado about nothing.

Kazachok has a personal Russian connection it seems - that's why he is hating on the Ukraine.

If there is anything I seem to have, it is an understanding of the Russian language, and a rudimentary knowledge of Ukrainian, so I don't have to rely solely on English-speaking media. I can also phone people I know in Ukraine.And as for the Bandera fans with their Molotov cocktails, they can go go back to their feudal lords, ie, Rzecz Pospolita. They are poor and frustrated, but that deal with the EU wouldn't have helped.

Kazachok saidI prefer to think for myself rather than to have a think tank do it for me...As for Ukraine: Much ado about nothing.

Kazachok has a personal Russian connection it seems - that's why he is hating on the Ukraine.

If there is anything I seem to have, it is an understanding of the Russian language, and a rudimentary knowledge of Ukrainian, so I don't have to rely solely on English-speaking media. I can also phone people I know in Ukraine.And as for the Bandera fans with their Molotov cocktails, they can go go back to their feudal lords, ie, Rzecz Pospolita. They are poor and frustrated, but that deal with the EU wouldn't have helped.

Yep, kiwi has it right, spoken like a supporter of domination by the Russian Federation, if not actual incorporation of Ukraine back into the former Soviet fold.

Kazachok saidI prefer to think for myself rather than to have a think tank do it for me...As for Ukraine: Much ado about nothing.

Kazachok has a personal Russian connection it seems - that's why he is hating on the Ukraine.

If there is anything I seem to have, it is an understanding of the Russian language, and a rudimentary knowledge of Ukrainian, so I don't have to rely solely on English-speaking media. I can also phone people I know in Ukraine.And as for the Bandera fans with their Molotov cocktails, they can go go back to their feudal lords, ie, Rzecz Pospolita. They are poor and frustrated, but that deal with the EU wouldn't have helped.

Yep, kiwi has it right, spoken like a supporter of domination by the Russian Federation, if not actual incorporation of Ukraine back into the former Soviet fold.

Kazachok saidI prefer to think for myself rather than to have a think tank do it for me...As for Ukraine: Much ado about nothing.

Kazachok has a personal Russian connection it seems - that's why he is hating on the Ukraine.

If there is anything I seem to have, it is an understanding of the Russian language, and a rudimentary knowledge of Ukrainian, so I don't have to rely solely on English-speaking media. I can also phone people I know in Ukraine.And as for the Bandera fans with their Molotov cocktails, they can go go back to their feudal lords, ie, Rzecz Pospolita. They are poor and frustrated, but that deal with the EU wouldn't have helped.

Yep, kiwi has it right, spoken like a supporter of domination by the Russian Federation, if not actual incorporation of Ukraine back into the former Soviet fold.

Following excerpt provides good insight into the pro-government rally."The atmosphere at the pro-government rally in Kiev on Saturday was muted. Most people did not want to speak, and many of those who did were ambivalent about the rally and were not even listening to the speeches from the stage. Some admitted that they had been forced to come to Kiev for the weekend under threat of losing their job."

Kazachok saidI prefer to think for myself rather than to have a think tank do it for me...As for Ukraine: Much ado about nothing.

Kazachok has a personal Russian connection it seems - that's why he is hating on the Ukraine.

If there is anything I seem to have, it is an understanding of the Russian language, and a rudimentary knowledge of Ukrainian, so I don't have to rely solely on English-speaking media. I can also phone people I know in Ukraine.And as for the Bandera fans with their Molotov cocktails, they can go go back to their feudal lords, ie, Rzecz Pospolita. They are poor and frustrated, but that deal with the EU wouldn't have helped.

Yep, kiwi has it right, spoken like a supporter of domination by the Russian Federation, if not actual incorporation of Ukraine back into the former Soviet fold.

Following excerpt provides good insight into the pro-government rally."The atmosphere at the pro-government rally in Kiev on Saturday was muted. Most people did not want to speak, and many of those who did were ambivalent about the rally and were not even listening to the speeches from the stage. Some admitted that they had been forced to come to Kiev for the weekend under threat of losing their job."

But I must also wonder who is funding the protests on the other side.Why would it even be surprising that I would be concerned for my people?But my point is: No, they won't get into the EU. Ukraine is bankrupt. This Euromaidan just boils down to "Look at us! Look at us! Pick us! We're western too!"